Palm, Ring-finger, and pinky pain from playing bass guitar

by Nick B
(Salisbury, NC)

I am 21 years old and I have been playing bass very heavily for four years now.

A few days ago, I woke to have some stiffness and soreness in my palm, ring-finger, and pinky of my fretting hand. We had a small gig that night and it was one of the most painful experiences of my life.

The next morning, the pain was twice as intense. My band has some VERY big gigs coming up. What is happening?

A few other notes, using my right hand to move my fingers of my left hand, I feel no pain. But if I "tell" my left hand to move, that is when I feel the pain.